In the wake of the 11 September attacks, the EU adopted an action plan on counterterrorism, which last week's European Council updated and extended.

Much of the old action plan had been achieved. A Framework Decision on Terrorism has tightened counter terrorist legislation in those countries which had not previously faced a terrorist threat. A European Arrest Warrant allows quicker extradition from one member state to another. A system has been established collectively to freeze terrorist assets. Last week's Council decided that we need rapidly to complete implementation of the measures already agreed, approved a wide ranging package of measures designed to enhance further our citizens' security, and endorsed the creation of an EU counter-terrorism co-ordinator.